The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-08-26
MYSTERIES OF mlcRoscopx.


The Work III an Enthusiastic IuNcstI-
Gator-vbew of Fly's Tongse.
Eir. George NJ. Hopkins, of The Scien-
,tific American as very enthusiastic mi
croscopist. He has been very faithful
and lsesevering Rn his investigations, and
has written many articles calculated to
lpopularize the science, and thus open the
door which leads to great amount of
pleasure lin the .bnaad field OF nature. Mr..
Hopkins instrument and attachments
are valued at $3.50 An illustrated article
IN The Scientific American supplement
thoroughly demonstrates the fact that
mach excellent work can be done with
whatis known as toy microscope. 1t
says:
-Some have erroaeously supposed am
expensive instrument and elaborate ac-
cessories necessary to fhe pursuit of mi
crocopical Investigations. These things
are, of course, desirable; but when one
has learned ;an that can be learned by the
aid Of the simple and inexpensive micro
scope. he is very far advanced, and may
with propriety present his instrument to
some one unable to purchase for himself,
and proceed to the selection of something
better suited to Ills advanced position i'm
microscopy
Irecently he'd tine pleasure of spending
an hour with Mr.. Hopkins at his resi-
dence, looking al variety of objects
through his splendid instruments. The
pleasure of doing this was greatly height
ened by having in. the person of my host
n person who was thoroughly conversant
With the subject and whose skilled hand
could arrange the object and equalize the
light in such a way that the sections of
bugs, beetles and birds could be shown at
their best, while ut the same time impart-
ing Invaluable information regarding
each subject viewed. Sitting down at a
revolving table in the center Of the room,
Mr.. Hopkins said:
Suppose we look at the fly's tongue?'
''All right" said l. Files have been
investigating me for a long time, and
nothing would give me more pleasure
than to see fly's tongue transfixed and
10 investigate it calmly under the micro
scope -
Accordingly Mr.. Hopkins placed the
subject in position, and, turning the
table, / brought my eye to bear upon the
object. The fly's tongue is certainly
complicated piece of mechanism. No de-
scription would do it Justice; it must be
seen to be appreciated The next subject
was a section of horsehy, showing the
complete kit of tools with which he pur-
sues his Investigations into the flesh of
horses. There was fine saw, with teeth
plainly visible, piercer for irritating the
wound which causes the blood to flow,
and all arranged for use. Then we looked
at the sawfy which frequents rose and
gooseberry bushes, and saws places in the
twigs and deposits its eggs. The singing
apparatus of the ordinary honey bee next
claimed our attention. Having had some
experience with bees business depart
ment, congratulated myself that the
mystery of its operation was about to be
unveiled. The sight confirmed me in my
purpose previously formed of giving bee
hives q wide berth in future. A bees
stinger looks formidable under micro.
scope. Teeth project from the side of it
like q swordfish, and attached to it is the
poison bag, which contains the article
which when inserted into mans hand
by an enterprising bee makes him wish
that he had never been born.
The hornet was next investigated. 1t
has been said that he differs from the
flea in this respect: that when you put
Much as we dislike to meet the hornet
and be interviewed by him, especially
when seated on the grass eating loaf cake
at a picnic, he appears remarkably well
under microscope. Mr.. Hopkins called
my attention to this interesting fact. On
the edge of the hornets wings are
series Of hooks which at certain times
are used to hook the wings together, but
no one has yet succeeded in hooking or
unlocking the wings of the captured in
sect. The hooks were plainly seen
through the instrument. A bees foot
and a fringed paddle of the water beetle
closed our Investigations among the in
sect tribe. A section of the leaf of the
deutia plant was next shown. 1t was
covered with little stars perfectly formed.
These stars are composed of slick, and if
the leaf is burned the stars are not con-
sumed. Diatoms are q subject for special
study. They are vegetable plants COM
prising innumerable varieties, which can
only be'seen and classified by the aid of
the microscope. Diatoms have beenseen
upon which 1875, 900 transverse lines have
been shown by the aid of the most pow
erful microscopes. Polarized light is
another department of microscopical
study. The polarizer is attached to the
microscope, and by its means the most
beautiful forms and colors are seen.
There are an infinite number of available
subjects in this realm. Chemical crystals,
mineral sections, nickel prisms and OBJ
jects from vegetable life all show vast
variety of colors and forms. Brooklyn
Eagle.